The Power of the Nile written by Atlantis ( 2003

Please, for the love of everything good and kind, don't throw veggies at me. I know I haven't updated in a long while, but this chapter has actually been done for some time, so I should get brownie points for that. I just got back from a two-week vacation in Colorado and I didn't have the time to submit this before I left. Sorry 'bout that, but packing can really take up your time. On a brighter note, this chapter is longer than the last one, so you can enjoy a little more of this fic as a sort of an apology. *shrugs sheepishly*

A short little thank you to the seven people who reviewed the last chapter: Tatsutahime, Thallein, Hoshiko-chan (Don't worry, this fic is strictly Seto/Téa!), Tara-hime (As always, your words were kind and analytical), Guardian Kysra (I want a banner, too!), Lonely Night Angel, and Ron V.

Disclaimer: Cut and paste any disclaimer you've ever seen and put it right *HERE*. I'm feeling too lazy to write it again.

Rating: PG-13

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Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged.

Matthew 7:1&2

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PART 4

"Release me! I command you!" Seto-ra yelled at his dragon which had imprisoned him within a large white claw. His now hard eyes watched as the mystical Phoenix circled and gently placed her mistress on a large patch of soft heather before alighting to the ground. All of the creatures gathered around her unconscious body and the dragon moved forward as well, towering over almost all of the other beasts. Sweeping a glance over everything around him, Seto-ra was astounded. There were large animals with strange defense-type characteristics on their bodies, disfigured beasts, creatures that looked almost human, and elements that hovered in the air which he could not put a name to. It was all so strange and wonderful that he nearly forgot his rage.

With renewed vigor, Seto-ra began kicking and fighting his dragon as best he could with his arms restrained and body in the grip of his dragon's talon. His dragon abruptly dropped him and he coughed on the moist dirt that had ended up in his mouth and nose. Pulling his dagger from the small sheath in his sandal, he leapt to his feet and rushed forward, intent to bury the blade in the witch's heart. The animals all parted which he thought strange and as he approached her, still running, he was suddenly thrown back and landed on the ground, having run into some sort of barrier. He looked up and something shone in the moonlight, like a mirror, before disappearing from sight again. Not being one to give up, Seto-ra circled around and attempted to attack again, only to find numerous monsters blocking his path and snarling protectively. A heat at his back forced him to turn around.

There, Phoenix and his dragon stood side-by-side, looking down at him with almost angry eyes. Flames danced within the falcon's blood-stone eyes and his dragon seemed to stare with a blue fire leaping in the depths of his gaze.

"Fall to your knees, little prince," Phoenix said, the voice sounding cultured and powerful. Seto-ra nearly did but shook his head and looked directly at her, refusing to bow. "Good. You do not kneel to intimidating forces nor do you succumb to persuasion easily. That will be a strong aid to you in the near future."

"You are the enemy!" he cried out, standing his ground and moving into a defensive position. Phoenix laughed like the wind on the desert and he growled, not having ever like it when people laughed at him.

"I am no more the enemy than you are, or your dragon," she replied smoothly. "And do not shift into a fighting stance prince. I could destroy you with one beat of my wings. However, that is not what I will do. You have a purpose and must come to understand it."

"I know my purpose," Seto-ra retorted angrily. "I destroy any and all evil that comes my way to keep it from chaining the world in slavery and darkness."

"Yes that is true, but that is only one of your purposes in this life," the flaming falcon answered. Seto-ra was surprised when he heard another voice and turned his head in disbelief.

"Prince Seto-ra, you are also meant to be a protector... of this young woman to be exact," his dragon said, the voice as old as the stars, filled with wisdom and experience.

"She is a witch, a sorceress! I shall not protect her, I shall kill her," Seto-ra promised.

"You will do no such thing little man!" two voice resounded behind him. Seto-ra turned to find two large beings with wings and swords almost larger than himself stepping forward from the crowd, arms folded over immense chests menacingly. "This young woman is the other half of your soul. To kill her would be to kill yourself. Your talk is worth nothing." One stepped forward with blonde curls and clear green eyes, his gaze softening somewhat on Seto-ra, and placed a large hand on his shoulder. Seto-ra flinched.

"You need not be afraid of me, unless you intend to harm my mistress," he said, voice a low rumble. "To think that she is a sorceress would be to think that you are a sorceror. Are you?" he questioned.

"Never! I would not blaspheme the gods in such a manner!" Seto-ra yelled.

"Then how can you think her to represent that evil when she shares the same powers you hold? You have only heard one side of the story prince, and a view without perspective can never see the truth." The being lifted his hand and stepped back and Seto-ra turned back to Phoenix and his dragon.

"I have misjudged her, then?" he asked, his voice a tremor. The two creatures nodded and Seto-ra fell to his knees, his head sinking into his hands. "That is the second time I have nearly killed without searching for the truth. I do not deserve the responsibilities that come with these powers," he cried. "But what of the stranger that informed us of my father's guard's death? Was it all a ruse?"

"No, that was not a lie, but the deceit was in how our mistress was portrayed. She controls no evil forces and tries to avoid killing at all costs. But like you, she is sometimes called on to perform the task. Your father's guard was a minion for the evil forces that, even now, continue to seep into our world from a place called the Shadow Realm. When her own life was threatened and after the attempted assassination of her father, she had no choice but to kill him," Phoenix informed him, her head bowing with sadness. "Sometimes she seems as if she can handle taking away a life and creatures of the shadows are one thing, but to take a human life... that is a far deeper notch on her conscience. I don't think she got over it, though she hid it well."

Seto-ra looked over to where the sleeping girl lay and felt a strong kinship to her. As if he was not even controlling his movements, he stepped towards her until standing over her, having gotten to her side with no hindrances. Her face, lighted by the moon, looked innocent and serene. For a moment, he wondered what it would be like to truly drink of her inviting lips before kneeling and pulling her head into his lap. His hands moved around her face, stroking the soft skin of her cheeks and jaw, even going over her lips with a gentle thumb before sifting his hands through her thick, satin-like hair. Her breathing remained even and unhindered and he watched her sleep, everything around him silent as the night moved on.

How long he stayed in that position he did not know. His arms were slightly chilled from the night air and his back was slightly sore, but he felt it was all worth it to just continue watching her sleep. Seto-ra looked up briefly and noticed that all the creatures had disappeared and he remained alone with a beautiful goddess in his arms. Tearing his eyes from her sleeping form, he saw the night sky begining to change with the slow coming of the sun. Black melted into dark blue, which gave way to grey and tints of light blue. The slightly orange glow on the far horizon announced the sun's coming and Seto-ra decided to move into a more shaded area so that the sun would not disrupt the un-named beauty's rest. Lifting her head with infinite care, he wrapped an arm around her back and another under her legs, rising slowly before moving to the shaded safety of the trees and foliage.

There was even thicker greenery there than he first realized and the soft heather beneath his feet felt comforting. Laying her back down, he knelt beside her again and suddenly felt the urge to rest himself. Yawning, he settled down next to her, his eyes locked on her until they slid shut with exhaustion.

***

Téatani woke groggily and pleasantly warm. Her body tingled and she shifted on the soft heather beneath her to move her stiff limbs. With her arms stretched out before her, she noticed the extra pair that was wrapped tightly around her middle with one slightly higher and near to her breasts. She flushed with heat and embarrassment, not knowing how she had gotten into this position. The thought to jump up and demand an explanation at the point of a sword for this unacceptable behavior was fleeting. Obviously if she was in someone's arms they meant no harm to her. Perhaps it was even a protective gesture. As the arms tightened around her further and pulled her back into a rather firm chest, she was sure that anything but harm was on this person's... no, this man's mind. These arms belonged to a man, of that she was sure.

Thinking hard, she tried to remember the night before and could only remember being called a witch by that godly handsome man before midnight descended on her memory. He was the only man she had come into contact with and why he might be holding her after trying to attack her and accusing her of being a witch, she had no idea. She felt as if she should be immeasurably angry but his presence at her back was natural, comforting and her whole being felt mellow and satisfied. Complete. Téatani remembered looking into the depths of his blue eyes and remembered a fleeting rumor she had heard in the palace.

'They say he has blue eyes, like the dark depths of the Nile,' one chambermaid whispered conspiratorially to another. 'He's supposed to have powers beyond all reason, much like our own princess. I hear tale from the markets that that means they are part of some supernatural being which must sacrifice both of them so that he can rule the planet...'

The rest of the gossip was nonsense and untrue, but for some reason she felt that they might be connected in some way. Turning in the strong arms that held her, she looked at the man before her and her breath caught. Gods, she had thought him perfection in the dark but with the dawn having come, she would not be surprised to find him to be a living deity. Dark brown hair fell into his closed eyes, lending him a slightly boyish look. His face was developed finely, squared jaw and firm lines that spoke of strength. For a man he had thick lashes which Téatani found unbelievably marvelous and a nose that fit his face well. She found that many men had noses too big for their faces, making them unseemly, but his was anything but unflattering. Her eyes traveled only a short distance to rest on the sight of his lips, not large by any standard but looking soft and gentle. His lips could be described as medium to small in thickness but they looked made for kissing. Téatani blushed furiously and leaned forward unconsciously into his hold.

She did not have to look at the rest of his body to know that he was firmed and toned by years of working one way or another. The arms around her continued to do devilish things to her insides as she concentrated on the subtle curves of his muscles and also on the firm planes of his chest. She could feel the slight indent between his two pectoral muscles and was extremely tempted to run her hands over his entire torse and the toned muscles over his stomach, to feel her hands molding to the shape of his body. Her eyes moved back up to study his face and suddenly felt much closer to him than before for she could feel his breath moving over her lips. Téatani's heartbeat sped up and she could feel her pulse leaping in her neck, her body warming once again. Gods she was so aroused and he was merely sleeping! She groaned.

*I thought men were supposed to be like this,* she mused to herself. The man holding her stirred, having his dreams of a sumptuous figure interrupted by a soft moan. His eyelids moved up languidly then blinked when he noticed the bright blue eyes shining into his own. Tightening his arms, he knew that she wasn't a dream because her every curve was pushed against the front of him body. And if it was a dream, he prayed he got to finish it before he woke up. His thoughts were halted when her eyes moved away from his and she squirmed nervously. He held her still and brought her even closer to him, knowing that if she squirmed it would be even worse for him.

"Good morning," he greeted, covering his yawn with a hand that he had grudgingly removed from her waist.

"Well it is certainly morning, but I'm not certain of the good," Téatani replied, gaining back some of her courage as the man before her became more and more aware of his surroundings. "You are a puzzling man and perhaps not right in the mind." Seto-ra's brows knit together in confusion and he released her when she moved out of his arms. She rolled away from him and sat up on her legs, looking down at him closely. He propped himself up on an elbow and Téatani felt heat spread through her body. He looked gorgeous in the morning light, especially when he was looking at her with child-like confusion. However, she was sure that she looked the mess and began to pat down her hair and pull her fingers through a few tangles.

"I am perfectly right in the head," Seto-ra argued, taking in the young beauty before him. If he had been standing, he would have been brought to his knees and then readily worshipped her. Her eyes were bright and shining like the water of a fountain, lovely face, and had a sinfully shaped body even though it was covered by a modest white hooded robe.

"That is certainly debatable," she snapped back, pushing against her knees and standing. Téatani walked away from him and into the sunlight, pausing to warm her face with the light before moving to the stream and drinking the cold, refreshing water. Seto-ra shook his head and followed, not understanding her. He knelt beside her and drank as well and mimicked her as she stood.

"Is there a possibility you could tell me why that's debatable?" he asked her, folding his arms over his chest. Téatani, who had turned to go look for her dogs, turned back to him and laughed.

"Well, let's see," she murmured sarcastically, raising her eyes skyward in mock-pondering and held up a hand. "Last night, you tried to kiss me," her pointer finger rose. "Moments later, you tried to attack me, intent on killing me," she said as a second finger rose. "I wake up this morning and your arms are wrapped around me as if we were wed and you greet me civilly," she added as a third finger rose. "Now why wouldn't you be right in the head?" Téatani asked, looking at him. She tapped her chin, all of actions beginning to annoy Seto-ra. He knew she was mocking him. "Ah yes, now I know why! Because your emotions and actions have been changing more than those of a pregnant woman's. Can you make your mind up about me or should I prepare myself for your next mood swing?" Seto-ra growled.

"I was misinformed and have been set straight. I apologize for my error. I was merely reacting on..." he didn't get to finish.

"Emotions," Téatani answered for him. "Yes, and I suppose you do that often." She sighed. "I forgive you. Somehow it is not within me to hold a grudge against you. It's as if I'd be holding a grudge against myself." Shrugging her shoulders, Téatani turned away from him and walked to the edge of the small cliff, staring into the small pool at the base of the waterfall. The blue in her eyes reflected that of the waters' depths, sparkling with a quiet confusion and vibrancy of life. As if pulled by an invisible thread to her side, Seto-ra approached her and stopped at her side, looking at her before sending his gaze to the cool waters as well. The air around them was quiet for a long period of time, only the faint rustle of leaves on the light breeze occasionally interrupting the silence.

Finally, Téatani pressed her lips together and closed her eyes, breathing out a for a long moment, her body relaxing and shifting to face the man she still did not know the name of. She stared at his sun-drenched profile only a moment before he moved and returned her stare, the intensity of blue against blue nearly bringing them both to their knees. Her eyes sought his, searching for truth and purpose while his returned the favor. Their souls and powers surged together in a gentle meeting, prodding, embracing, and discovering what they could to ease their puzzlement. Sometime during the delve into each other's psyche, both sets of blue eyes had closed in a languid trance and nothing else existed but the exploration of lives that had both felt so lonely.

Seto-ra was the first to open his eyes and found the young woman in his arms, tightly held to his chest and looking like she had been molded to fit only him. He watched her breathe softly, felt her chest rise and fall against his own and wondered why he didn't feel aroused. But the second she opened her eyes and looked up at him, he knew that no sexual feeling could ever match what he felt now, slipping into the lakes of endless understanding blue before him. It was as if nothing could touch him: a sense of knowing that he would be invincible as long as she was by his side. She gasped suddenly and pushed out of his arms, flinging her body down to the small stream and splashing her face with the cold water. His eyes grew worried as he watched her body shake, then her head as she rid herself of the excess water. She looked up at him.

*I heard that,* he heard her say.

"But I didn't say anything," he countered before realizing that she hadn't moved her mouth. "Oh gods, what has happened between us?" Seto-ra asked as he sank to his knees next to her and pulled her to him. She did not resist.

*In searching, we must have bond... no, it was before that. I don't think we were paying enough attention before to notice it,* she mumbled.

*I hear you now,* Seto-ra told her in his mind as he absently stroked her back. *What are you talking about, 'before?' We've never met before last night.* Téatani looked up at him, eyes soft and vulnerable.

*You have realized that our powers seem to know each other, seek out each other, correct?* she asked. He nodded. *I think they've come from the same source. We've always been together, affected by each other, and not known it. I know that you have suffered that longing of finding that something you know will complete you and the desperation that you won't. You know that I have gone through the same tribulations. And last night, the shock of our meeting didn't allow us to realize that we truly were already bonded,* Téatani explained mentally. Seto-ra's chin rested atop her hair and his eyes widened in realization.

*I understand. But there is one thing I still wish to know,* he told her. She pulled away slightly and stared up at him again.

*What?* she asked.

"Your name," he said aloud. The young woman in his arms blushed brightly and bit her lip, looking down shyly. She said something softly and Seto-ra gently brought her chin up with two fingers and a thumb, making sure that her eyes met his. "Again, please," he requested.

"Téatani," she said again softly. "Princess of the Lower Kingdom."

"And I am Seto-ra, the Upper Kingdom's only prince," he replied, smiling at her. "I believe it must have been a ruse that our kingdoms would go to war and fate that brought us together."

"Or a danger so great that we couldn't handle it alone," Téatani added, her face becoming solemn.

"Perhaps, but let us cross that bridge when we come to it. There is still much that I wish to know about you," Seto-ra replied with a chuckle. "I am expected to be gone for a while from my kingdom so we should make our way towards yours. I would like to greet your father."

"If you knew him I'm not sure that you would hold true to that wish," Téatani giggled. "And why would you not want to meet my mother? She is just as good as any man!" Seto-ra ran the back of his hand against Téatani's cheek slowly, his eyes staring longingly at her lips before rejoining her stare.

"I have no doubt of that if she has even half of the spirit that you have. It would be my pleasure to meet the woman that brought you into this world, to me," he whispered softly, pressing his cheek to hers and kissing the shell of her ear. She shivered in his arms and he made to pull her closer before she moved away and stood, wrapping her arms around herself. Her stance was slightly rigid and nervous.

"Then we should get going. It is a good day's journey and I want to see my father. He is undoubtedly still recovering from that arrow wound," she said hurriedly. Seto-ra looked at her with compassion, knowing how it felt to worry for a loved-one but felt confusion simmering underneath. Why was she so hesitant to be in his arms?

Their gazes locked together again, as if magnetized, a war of blue worlds fighting for understanding. Téatani abruptly tore her gaze from his and raised her arms, a whirlwind of fire swirling around her before Phoenix appeared. Seto-ra rose from the ground as well and called upon his dragon, the mass of shimmering white scales and blue eyes materializing within moments. The creatures greeted them and Téatani called to her two dogs, petting them on their heads and hugging them before asking them to return to their own realm. They complied immediately after giving her large, sloppy kisses and she climbed atop Phoenix, sitting astride and showing marvelous legs that Seto-ra enjoyed appreciating. He was caught off guard when she and Phoenix leapt into the air and began a fast flight towards the Lower Kingdom's capital.

Seto-ra was chasing her on the wind currents as soon as he was seated on his beast, fighting against the wind to keep from falling off. The sun was bright and golden and in his eyes, forcing him to squint. Téatani looked back at him over her shoulder, laughing as the air whipped her dark hair around her face. Turning back around, she and Phoenix suddenly rose higher into the air, blocking out the sunlight and casting a large shadow over the desert below. They were above the air currents, soaring and floating on warm breezes that had been lonely for a long time with only the clouds to keep them company. Dipping between and through the white bodies, Téatani would emerge each time with a layer of water droplets on her skin, only serving her to glow more.

Her laughing floated on the air, drifting down to reach Seto-ra's ears and his closed eyes served to sharpen his hearing, and he felt like he was falling at the sound of her voice. His eyes flew open when he suddenly had to grip at his dragon's neck as the beast rose to join the falcon and the princess. Seto-ra shivered as they passed through a particularly large cloud quickly, the unexpected moisture hitting his skin with frigid reality. Gripping his dragon with his legs, he rubbed his hands up and down his arms, trying to warm. Phoenix dropped to the dragon's side and Téatani smiled at him before donning a confused look on her face.

"Have you never flown this high before?" she questioned him, turning and facing him. He merely shook his head, still trying to warm himself. She giggled. "Then you should never travel to the lands past Greece or you will certainly freeze." He sent a half-glare her way, too cold to mean it or do anything else. Lightnight flashed in front of the pair, crashing down to earth and startling the travelers.

Both Phoenix and Blue-Eyes swerved away from each other abruptly to avoid passing through a dark cloud and spent a few moments finding each other again in the maze of white and swiftly-turning grey. The golden flames that flowed from Phoenix's wing tips helped in reuniting the traveling pair and Téatani checked on Seto-ra, holding back a laugh when she found he was still extremely cold. He looked miserable and she felt a pang of guilt in her heart for not warning him of the change in temperatures. Of course it couldn't be all her fault, she thought it would have been natural that he discover and explore the skies on the back of his dragon, but apparently he hadn't. She leaned over and whispered to Phoenix and the falcon nodded as she continued her flight towards the capital.

"No, I don't mind at all Princess. Do be careful," she replied, her voice warm and light. Téatani looked back at Seto-ra and his dragon who had fallen behind a few yards and he looked at her. She bit her lip and then shut her eyes, placing her palms down on the back of Phoenix's neck, breathing deeply. Her whole body suddenly felt warm, like she was floating in a world of nothingness, heat spreading through her arms and rushing through the rest of her body as if a floodgate had been opened. She felt herself connect with Phoenix on a supernatural level, experiencing her powers and thoughts and fears all at once. It was exhilerating, frightening, and overwhelming.

Seto-ra watched as Téatani began to glow as soon as she placed her hands on Phoenix, gold outlining her form and lighting the way through the clouds which had become dark and menacing so quickly. He could feel the air around him begin to warm and felt a bright light trickling into his soul. Looking up, startled, he could feel Téatani probing through Phoenix's powers as she took in more warmth from the fiery falcon. The feeling of peace and tranquility settled over him even in his continued state of being cold but urgency filled him unexpectedly and his closed eyes flew open to worriedly stare at Téatani whose body was shaking. She was taking in too much power, was getting lost in the feel of it.

*Let go,* Seto-ra whispered to her. *Just let go,* he repeated, searching for her in the blinding light of Phoenix's conscious. Spotting her in the middle of the light, he moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her, his hands settling over hers. Slowly she relinquished Phoenix's power and drifted out of the weightless world she had ascended to, turning in his arms before both of them disappeared from the falcon's mind.

Blinking rapidly, Seto-ra found himself back on his dragon, still cold and now getting sore. *But at least Téatani is safe,* he thought as she once again turned back to face him. Her bright smile forced a small quirk of his lips and he watched as she raised her hands, full of golden light, and blew it towards him on a gentle breath. Instant warmth spread over his body, thawing his frozen limbs and drying his slightly damp hair. He hadn't realized that she had delved into Phoenix's psyche for power to warm him and he was touched by the caring gesture, his heart warming with the rest of his body.

Phoenix suddenly dove out of sight, flying beneath the clouds and Blue-Eyes followed her, forcing Seto-ra to grab tightly to the fringe along his neck for fear of falling. The capital of the Lower Kingdom lay before them, a large city built of dirty stone and worn canvas ramadas. Fruit stands littered the market square and people bustled all around, bartering and arguing for fair prices. The palace stood at the rear of the city, the large walls and gates making it impenetrable as well as intimidating for any enemy or foe. White stone marked the dwelling of the royal family, a start contrast to the darker, more dreary, colors of the city below it. Large doorways allowed passage for multitudes of people and windows littered the sides to allow light in to the monument. Even Seto-ra felt awe at the structure, for it rivaled his own home and was made more beautiful by the dark green-blue waters of the Nile just to the side. This city, he realized, was green and lush, surrounded by vegetation and flowering plants, not to mention healthy crops which grew on the banks of the great river. He could not hate the Lower Kingdom for having such prosperity, but he certainly envied it as they circled around the entire capital before making their way down near the back of the palace.

The moment Phoenix touched the ground, Téatani leapt from her back and rushed to the back wall of the palace, then remembered her guest and waited for him to unseat himself from his beast and join her. Seto-ra looked at her as she raised a hand to the wall and it opened to her, a round portal forming in the stone and remaining open as they passed through before closing once again, as if it had never been there. She took his hand and dragged him along quickly, in a rush to get to her father and not wanting to worry about losing him in the intricate passages of the palace. They passed by numerous servants who all gave Téatani kind smiles and greetings of 'Welcome back' as they proceded to move through the halls and Seto-ra marveled at the affect she obviously had on all who lived in the palace.

Téatani skidded to a halt and Seto-ra crashed into her back, his arms falling around her waist and pulling her back to keep them from toppling to the floor. She flashed a grateful smile at him and pulled away, slowly, and moved to a large gilded door, knocking softly and opening it a bit. Looking in and discerning whether or not it was good for her father to have visitors, she shut the door again and moved off in a different direction.

"He's asleep right now and so is my mother. She looks exhausted," she said softly, shaking her head. "She probably didn't even let herself sleep as long as she was worried about him." A rough hand found its way into Téatani's and she looked up to find Seto-ra looking at her, empathetic emotions on his face.

"I'm sure that she'll be alright. I can't imagine the woman who brought you into the world not being able to handle something. I mean, she's been able to handle you all of these years," he teased, trying to bring a smile back to her face. Téatani glanced at him through narrowed eyes and smirked, taking a stronger grip on his hand for comfort and nodded. The hall was quiet as they continued walking, their feet whispering against the stone and Téatani's long robes the only sounds to be heard.

Stopping in front of another pair of large doors, Téatani released Seto-ra's hand and opened the massive gold doors after issuing a silent command to unlock them, stepping in and leaving the visiting prince to follow her. She was tackled by Baki and Memnoh the moment she was away from the door, their tongues licking at her face and large paws pushing into her shoulders as she laughed from the floor. Seto-ra closed the door after him and looked to the scene on the floor, feeling complete once again as he watched the beautiful princess show her true self and play with her animals. Téatani pushed the dogs away and wiped her face with the sleeves of her robes, getting up from the floor and walking over to her bed where she removed her robes and laid them on the bed. Clad in her warrior garb, she went to the balcony, moving through the sheer curtains like a spectre to stop at the railing, peering over the Lower Kingdom as it prepared to go to sleep. Caught up in her admiration of the city, she didn't pay attention to Seto-ra who had been frozen in place the moment she removed her white cloak.

He couldn't help it; his mouth fell open. The way she had taken off the mantle so carelessly to toss it on her bed, not caring what she wore underneath had left him speechless. In the oasis he had not gotten a chance to see what had been beneath her robes, but now he saw why she was ready for battle. Instead of traditonal Egyptian sandles, she wore the strange footware of the Greeks and was clothed in a white tunic that dropped to mid- thigh and was in turn covered by a metal pleated skirt, gold breastplate, and had a sword hanging at her waist. He had forgotten about that. It was not hard to believe that she must be a strong woman indeed to be able to wear such armor and not collapse under the weight, but she carried herself well, as though it weighed nothing at all. That was not why his mouth had fallen open though.

As a young man, he dreamed of women, naturally. He couldn't help but dream of women who were fierce, spirited and beautiful, for simpering idiots merely annoyed him, no matter what they looked like. Seeing the short skirt of her battle gear and form-fitted breastplate had nearly dropped him to his knees in awareness, his chest tightening almost painfully and desire searing his veins. Her hair was still wind-tossed and her cheeks rosy from the adventure in the air, eyes blue and peaceful, and entirely too 'come hither' for Seto-ra to handle. He groaned. It was going to be far more trouble dealing with this wonderful specimen of a woman who was his other half than he had first thought. Much, much more.

***

And that's the end of Part 5. So, what do you think? Is it progressing too slow or am I keeping up a good tempo with this fic? I need to know this stuff. Again, please excuse my tardiness in getting this out. I thought that with summer here I'd have more time but I'm actually quite busy.

Here comes my excuse for Riddles now: I haven't even started working on the next chapter because I have been working on, literally, around seven fics or so and it accidently hit the back burner in priority. I'll try to work on it soon because I feel horrible for leaving it alone this long. I know what I want to do with it, so that won't be a problem, I just gotta get it down on the PC. I'll try and get it out sometime during mid-July, since that's about the quickest I can get it written, edited, formatted, and then submitted. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about it. It's my Yu-Gi-Oh! baby and there's no way I'll leave it unfinished. PROMISE!!!

Well, not much left to say except that you should *please* review. Everybody loves reviews, especially me!

Atlantis *^_^*

P.S. If anyone is up to chatting with me, my AIM is in my profile.